Some people are aware that for whatever reason, they like to stay unmarried-
"so I can come and go as I please" is what I often hear.

Marriage is not easy.

As long as someone is happy, that is all anyone can ask.

BTW, The last real Romanov per se was the Empress Elizabeth, daughter of
Tzar Peter the Great, after that, there was less and less Russian blood and
less and less real Romanov too....

__________________
<span style='font-family:Arial'><span style='font-size:2pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:purple'>&quot;I sincerely believe
that if monarchs appeared more often in their Crowns
there would be fewer republics!&quot;-H.I. &amp; R.H. Grand Princess Marie &quot;George&quot; of Greece and Russia</span></span></span>

Istanbul - 8 September 2002 - Princess Irene and Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece attend the christening of the daughter of Antonio Fournier and Ioanna Vardinoyannis, for whom they are the godparents. The christening took place at the Orhtodox Church of Constantinople, by the chief Orthodox priest Bartholomeus the First. There was a dinner and a dance on a luxury yacht afterwards.

I read in an autobio of the royal greek family that her mum did not approve of any of her suitors and felt that since sofia married a future king and since in greece the title of royalty doesnt pass thru the females,she wished for her to marry a royal as well,to regain her statue.

Look at this picture, and then look at the feet of H.R.H. the Princess. Is it just me or is she wearing sport shoes (or how do you call them in English, like Nike and Puma shoes that kind). Cause then she is a modern royal wearing that kind of shoes...

by the way, i heard Irene was not married, but do got a relationship with someone for a while. Does anyone know with who? what was his name?

Has a possible "fiancé" ever been known to princess Ireni ? or a simple boyfriend?
I think it is a so sad that she remained single.

Elena

Why is it sad that she remained single? What makes you think that Irene is sad at all? Maybe that is a conscious choice she made. Maybe she never wanted to be married.

While some people are happier being married, not everybody is. And some married people are quite sad because they are married. Just like some people are very happy to have children and others don't want children at all. Being married or not being married doesn't make for a happier life necessarily and its unfair to post such standards on everyone.

Why is it sad that she remained single? What makes you think that Irene is sad at all? Maybe that is a conscious choice she made. Maybe she never wanted to be married.

While some people are happier being married, not everybody is. And some married people are quite sad because they are married. Just like some people are very happy to have children and others don't want children at all. Being married or not being married doesn't make for a happier life necessarily and its unfair to post such standards on everyone.

I agree with Genevieve. I was married for 5 years and was misereable. I am alone now and I have never been happier. That doesn't mean that if I don't find the right man I will be sad. It was just wasn't meant to be.

Irene's late bf was some kind of exiled Greek military attache who lived in London for many years IIRC. He passed away several years ago.

Irene has always been independent in lifestyle and belief. For many years she has studied eastern religion and mysticism, the same interest her mother Frederica had. She is known privately to be affiliated with the Ramakrishna, a religous organization/sect, and has a home she spends a lot of time at in eastern India. Sophie and other family members have often gone to visit her there. I believe she's a vegetarian as well, according to someone I know who's met and eaten with her.

For those interested Ramakrishna is not a "cult" as it sounds to our ears but a genuinely respected sect in India that follows the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, a 19th century mystic guru. There are several spiritual centers in the US.